John 5 (ASV)
1 After these
things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in
Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew
Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a
multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, waiting
for the moving of the water.
4 (this verse is not
contained in some manuscripts)
5 And a certain man was there,
who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity.
6 When Jesus saw him
lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case,
he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole?
7 The sick man answered him,
Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into
the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before
me.
8 Jesus saith unto
him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And straightway the man was
made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the
sabbath on that day.
10 So the Jews said
unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful
for thee to take up thy bed.
11 But he answered
them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy
bed, and walk.
12 They asked him,
Who is the man that said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 But he that was
healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed himself away,
a multitude being in the place.
14 Afterward Jesus
findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art
made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee.
15 The man went away,
and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.
Bethesda was probably from the name of a hill Bezetha described by Josephus as being part of the new city that was just outside the north wall (first wall) of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. These pools were near the bottom of the hill going up towards Herod Gate.
Some translations indicated the area of the pools was surrounded by five porticoes, i.e. the NAS translation.
There were some fine photos of porticoes online from Portici, Italy:
Porticoes were common architectural features in classical Jerusalem.
